F-1 and J-1 Off-Campus Employment Based on Severe Economic Hardship
Permission to work off campus is possible for reasons of economic hardship if on-campus employment is not sufficient. Economic hardship means extreme financial problems caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond the student’s control, such as loss of a graduate assistantship and inability to find further employment on-campus, loss of financial sponsorship, or severe inflation or devaluation of currency in the home country. Students considering applying for economic hardship should first e-mail isss-students@mail.wvu.edu a brief description of why they feel they are qualified to apply to USCIS for off-campus work authorization due to severe economic hardship and ask to speak to an advisor/DSO. You will then be contacted with further information via e-mail. An appointment may be arranged after providing information via e-mail with ISSS staff as they work to research and determine eligibility.
As mentioned, the off-campus economic hardship application to USCIS is for unforeseen and dire financial circumstances. Approval by USCIS is not guaranteed and requires a detailed application process to USCIS with application fee. It will require the help of a DSO (Designated School Official) in the ISSS office who will need to first discuss with you your eligibility and collect documents from you. Application for off-campus employment for severe economic hardship is also not immediate and approval time varies from several months to over a year or more for USCIS to adjudicate the application. Please contact isss-students@mail.wvu.edu if you need to discuss your eligibility.
Working off-campus without being authorized is considered a violation of status that could lead to termination of your status. Do not work off-campus without first receiving prior authorization from ISSS and an approved application to USCIS where applicable.
Eligibility Requirements for Severe Economic Hardship
To be eligible to apply for off-campus employment authorization due to severe economic hardship, you must:
- Have been a student for one full academic year
- Be in good academic standing and pursuing a full course of study
- Demonstrate that acceptance of employment will not interfere with your study
- Demonstrate that the severe economic hardship is due to unforeseen circumstances beyond your control and demonstrate that on-campus employment is unavailable or insufficient.
Check out additional information and application instructions for F-1 Students. For J-1 students, please
contact ISSS at
isss-students@mail.wvu.edu.
F-1 students who get approved and receive an employment authorization card (EAD) through USCIS, are required to provide a copy of the EAD card to ISSS.